Redistricting proposal chops up the county

Perry County’s sense of community has been affronted by a recent legislative redistricting proposal that could become final by the end of the year.

For the past decade Perry County’s representation in state government has been unified as both the 34th Senate District, served by Centre County Republican Jake Corman, and the 86th House District, represented by Mark Keller.

That may be changing as those who drew the proposed Senate redistricting plan appear to have ignored topography and divided the county among three different districts. (The House plan leaves the county intact.)

Under the plan, Corman no longer would represent any of the county. He would pick up parts of Union and Snyder counties. He observed that this is the same thing that happened the last time around when he lost Clinton County and gained Perry.

He said redistricting is difficult because you spend 10 years building relationships for problem-solving local issues, and then have to suddenly readjust.

Corman reported it was a joy to represent the county and he made many friends who will stay friends even if he no longer represents them.

Marysville and Rye Twp. might find themselves in the 31st District, which currently is represented by Cumberland County Republican Pat Vance.

Vance is the chair of the public health and welfare committee. She sits on the appropriations, banking and insurance, communications and technology, and finance committees as well.

The 31st loses the western half of Cumberland County and expands both north to Marysville and south into York County along the Susquehanna River.

Vance looks forward to representing her new district, and said that she will focus more on the issues facing river towns, which would make up a larger portion of her constituents.

Duncannon and Landisburg as well as Penn, Wheatfield, Carroll, Spring and Tyrone townships may move to the 15th District. Dauphin County Republican Jeffrey Piccola currently represents the 15th. However, he announced on Nov. 10 that he will not seek re-election in 2012.

Piccola’s announcement was surprising because many believed the district was tailored for his re-election. Regardless of the reason, the district now heavily favors Republicans, switching from a 46 to 41 percent Democratic registration advantage, to a 50 to 37 percent Republican advantage in the proposed new one.

In the redrawing, Harrisburg is removed from the district. Many observers believe this also was done with Piccola in mind as he lost every city precinct in his 2008 close win over Democrat Judy Hirsh. What’s more, Piccola has been controversial among Harrisburg voters, as he supported the school take over plan by then-Mayor Steve Reed in 2000 and the recent state take over proposal of the city’s government as well.

In place of the city, the district now weaves itself through five counties (Dauphin, Perry, Cumberland, Adams and York), taking a horseshoe shape.

The proposed shape of the 15th district has many detractors. In fact, Cumberland County Commissioner Rick Rovegno is working with commissioners from counties affected by the redistricting to devise an alternative.

Perry County Commissioner Brenda Benner is participating in Rovegno’s conferences, and states the proposed plan “is just absolutely ridiculous.”

Under the plan, the remaining 15 townships and six boroughs in the county would fall into the 30th District which is represented by Blair County Republican John Eichelberger Jr.

Eichelberger chairs the local government committee and sits on the agriculture and rural affairs, communications and technology, finance, game and fisheries, and transportation committees.

The 30th would shift east as chunks of Perry and Franklin counties have been added to the district to replace Bedford County, which will be moved to the 35th. As a side note, the proposed 35th is an ungainly district that starts at the Maryland border with Bedford County and arches to the northeast, ending in Clinton County north of State College.

The current configuration of the 30th makes it the fourth largest in the state. Its new configuration would cover roughly the same area. Eichelberger said he has heard many positive things about Perry County, and looks forward to representing the county.

Eichelberger believes there are positives and negatives to the new territory. Even though his new district covers roughly the same square mileage, it is now more elongated which makes travel more difficult. However, the addition of Perry County makes his district closer to Harrisburg, and will allow him to attend more county events as he gets to know his new constituents.

It is important to note the plan is not finalized, and under Rovegno’s alternative plan Perry County still would be united in one district.

Proposed changes to the plan must be submitted by Nov. 30, and the state commission has until the end of the year to make changes.